Man’s build

Webster’s dictionary defines leadership as 1: the office or position of a leader; 2: capacity to lead; 3: the act or an instance of leading. However, John C. Maxwell says leadership is influence - nothing more, nothing less.

Being a girl’s basketball leader really is not about who scores the most points or who has been appointed captain. Leadership is about who has the influence.

Baseball legend, Jackie Robinson said, “A life isn’t significant except for its impact on other lives.” Let’s change this statement to relate to girl’s basketball. A girl’s basketball leader isn’t significant except for their impact on the other girl’s basketball players.

Girl’s basketball leadership is not based on a position. It is not based on who has the title of coach, assistant coach, captain, nor MVP. It is based on who the players follow. If you can’t influence players to follow you, then you are not a leader.

I love the saying that leaders are readers. I’ve even heard that leaders are learners. So let’s put this in context for girl’s basketball. The average player is not willing to learn about the game outside of practice. But a girl’s basketball leader will learn more about the game through books, videos, trainers, coaches and mentors. A girl’s basketball leader will learn just as much about leadership through cds, books, videos, trainers, coaches and mentors.

Girl’s basketball leadership does not develop in a day but over time. It is an investment in oneself which will lead to the development of the team.

Visit http://www.girlsbasketballtips.com to get your copy of the 6 Girls Basketball Tips that will Explode Your Game!

The Nike dunk was introduced in 1985 as a basketball shoe that came in colors for many major colleges and universities and in both high-top and low-top form. The dunk is different from Nike’s previous basketball shoes by its lower profile sole and its lighter weight. The paneling on the shoe was designed for more support with pivoting.

In 1998 the Dunk was reintroduced by Nike and has been transformed from a basketball shoe into a fashion statement with many different colors and designs while still function as a basketball shoe. This time the dunk was introduced in many non college team colors, and often released in two versions, one version having reversed color of the other.

Because the dunks had a lower profile and increased stability from the paneling, they became very popular with skateboarders. To capitalize on this Nike created the SB Dunk line, specifically for skateboarders, which featured a thick, padded tongue and Nike’s Zoom Air Insoles. The SB dunk has become very popular because of the comfort and the diversity of designs the Nike has released the SB dunk in.

Rare Nike SB dunks include almost all SB dunks ever made. Nike releases the SB Dunks in semi-limited to very limited quantities and has become very trendy to sneaker enthusiast across the world. The rarest and most expensive to buy, if not purchased in the original run, are the SB dunks which an artists designed in cooperation with Nike. Often these artists are street artists. Long lines have been known to form when a particularly rare SB dunk is released. SB Dunks in the original run have are recommended retail price between 65 and 99 dollars. However due to limited quantities and their popularity, with skaters, trendy people, and sneakerheads they can often cost more because of the high demand. Internet hype can often be the cause of this popularity and rise in cost.

Read more about Nike SB Dunks as well as view models of all colors and sizes at http://www.hi-topsneaker.com/nikedunk/raresbdunks

Is your My Space profile a little… lacking, when it comes to style? Do others’ profiles seem to look better? Would you like yours to look more like theirs? It’s easier than you think! One step in this process is to use My Space layouts.

If you’re not familiar with them, My Space layouts are collections of code available on the internet for you to copy. There are exceptions, but for the most part code for improving My Space profiles is free of charge. And what do you get when you paste the code for My Space layouts into your profile? Your profile instantly changes from a plain background and standard organization format to a cool background with the different parts of your page being skillfully arranged around your background.

Do you love chess? Imagine My Space layouts built around chess, the lone king being guarded by the lone queen against a plethora of lesser enemy pieces perhaps, or maybe Kasparov staring intently at you from across a board. It might be just the thing to cause other chess aficionados to reach out to you, broadening your circle of friends and helping My Space do exactly what it was designed to do-better.

Or perhaps basketball is your thing, and basketball-based My Space layouts would be what appeals to you. Picture a layout which featured Kobe Bryant gracefully flying through the air, basketball in hand as he heads towards a slam dunk, yellow #24 jersey flapping in the wind. You could start an online debate with your friends about whether Kobe Bryant or Chris Paul deserved MVP-with you, obviously, backing the more deserving player!

Or maybe you’re a big fan of a different sort of celebrity, perhaps someone a little curvier, like Jessica Alba. You can find several versions of code for My Space layouts that feature her, perhaps one showing the beauty’s dark eyes, flowing hair and radiant smile to greet you and your friends whenever they visit your profile. Or if you’re a little more daring, you could find code that would feature her on the beach in a swimsuit-perhaps an added incentive for your friends (and you!) to visit your profile.

The possibilities are endless. So search the net for My Space layouts, find one that speaks to you personally, copy and paste a bit of code, and add your own unique sense of style to your My Space. It’s that easy!

Please visit http://www.mypimpspace.com for more information.

Once you have landed a scholarship and you start to fulfill your childhood dream, then you might begin to feel that school basketball is no longer sufficient to satiate your aching for the professional basketball league. If you have decided to go pro and believe that you can, then read these time-tested guidelines that will surely make you the next ‘talk of the town’:

1. Be committed. Once you feel that you have the talent to become a professional basketball player, then commit yourself. Don’t chicken out at the slightest sign of obstacles (because there will be many).

2. It is imperative for you to be on top of your game at all times. Psychic yourself to be a go-getter and that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to.

3. Prepare yourself physically. In terms of endurance, if you are able to run a mile, then do two. Double your efforts and the results will be doubled as well.

4. Impress your coach. He will be able to back you up on any applications that you make. When he is assured that he has a key player on his team, he might be able to make recommendations. If not, at least the word will get around that a certain player performs each game like it is the last game of his life.

5. Professional basketball is a form of employment and, thus, a career. If you have submitted your best resumes for the college athletic scholarship, then it’s a must to submit something more than your best. Highlight the skills that make you an asset to the professional team (examples are your statistics, newspaper articles that were written about you or your team, proof of game programs, etc.). Express your desire to enter the professional league by adding a cover letter. Make sure that the complete application papers are forwarded ahead of schedule.

6. Good grades: Since professional basketball doesn’t require licensing, time and again, the importance of getting good grades is reiterated. Most professional leagues require their players to have graduated from college or be nearing graduation. Graduating students should graduate within the prescribed calendar year. If not, some leagues are able to take in high school graduates. To add to that, they not only require mere graduates but graduates who made good grades.

7. Develop a professional attitude. Learn punctuality and self-discipline in all matters. Also, know how to bridle your anger. The slightest provocation could send you home and deprive you of the chance to earn $25,000-$20 million every year. Be sure that you are emotionally mature enough to take the rigors of the job.

8. Apply as early as when you are 20 years of age. In NBA, for instance, they will require you to have graduated from high school at least two years prior to the recruitment process.

9. Prepare to be homesick. Most professional basketball players have to travel (very far away) from their home so psyche yourself to be tough in all circumstances. Success will only come to those who are willing to sacrifice something in return.

10. Get yourself an agent that will serve as your counselor. These agents will further your basketball career by helping you connect to the right people in the industry. If you are one of those players who gets called from agents without even asking for one, then you are mightily blessed.

11. Plan for your retirement. When you are retired, what will you do? You have to have a buffer career for your retirement years. If you can, establish a business and a sizable savings. Know that there is life beyond the basketball court and that you will inevitably live that.

For your BASKETBALL SUCCESS, you can read more practically informative articles here on my website for FREE

The character

The most important thing to bring to any audition is also the most overlooked. You must bring the character! Bring the character! Is the character shy? Then don’t be loud and obnoxious at the audition. Is the character a bad boy? Then don’t go to the audition in a shirt and tie. Be your character from the moment you walk in the door to the moment you leave and at all times in between. The more the casting directors can see you as the “shy guy” or “bad boy” or whatever the character is, the more likely you are to land the role.

Extra clothes

It is usually not necessary to bring another outfit. But what if you arrive at an audition and discover that your desired character wears a tie? Having a tie in your car could give you a leg up. You run to the car, put it on, and look the part better than your competition. \

Necessary accessories

Is the character a basketball player? Why not bring along a basketball to use with the audition? Is she a journalist? How about a notebook and a pair of glasses? Remember, you want the casting director to see you as the character they are looking for.

A watch

Why? So you can get there with time to spare. Being late is a killer. Plus, getting there early allows you to read over the script, prepare and maybe even make an early impression on the casting directors.

Acting Script/Sides

If you are fortunate enough to get the script ahead of the audition, you are lucky. You can learn and even memorize your lines prior to the audition. Still, it is a good idea to bring them with you at the audition.

5 Headshots with Resume

The casting director will always need 1 or 2 to help make his final decision. Still, you should always have a few more, just in case one of the other project’s managers or actors think you would be great for a part elsewhere.

A warm smile and friendly personality

Why would they want to work with you otherwise?

by Charles Todd of Audition Central

Charles Todd is a staff writer for Audition Central. Charles has written numerous articles on the art and craft of acting. In addition to being a writer, Charles is also an actor and director.

When it comes to picking a winning sports fantasy pool/league (such as a hockey pool), it involves more than just picking the “exceptional players” from last season. You need to discover the players which are going to have their break out season - or at least try to! This article will outline the best practices and guidelines for selecting players in a NHL Hockey Fantasy Pool (or League).

For example, a few years ago Joe Thornton was atop the scoring leaders at the season’s end. But the following year, he was nowhere to be found at the top of the scoring leaders. He was a mediocre player at best. If you had chose a player such as Thomas Vanek who had a very average rookie season in 2005/2006, but he then had an exceptional 2006/2007 campaign. He would have cost you much less points than Joe Thornton but would give you many more points in the pool you are competing in than you would have received with Joe Thornton.

Another strategy to keep in mind is doing your research on a player’s current situation which includes injuries, contract disputes, etc. Players missing games in your pool can have a devastating effect on your positioning in the pool. If you insist on picking up injury prone players (such as Martin Havlat), make sure that your pool enables trades or dropping players who are injured or under performing so you can replace them if (or when) they become injured. You may also want to find out which players are coming to the end of their contract and will be looking for a big season point-wise to boost their value to get a bigger contract in their contract negotiations. These players will usually give that little bit extra when battling in the corners and produce more points for you in the pool.

Also keep in mind that a player may have missed a number of games the previous season, so if your pool’s draft is based on the players previous season’s stats, try to find a player which you feel will yield a lot of points, but their stats did not reflect it from the last season because of their missed games.

Defensemen can also get you quite a few points depending on how your pool’s point allocation is setup, but in most cases, they will not get you as many points as forwards will. The top scoring defensemen usually do not finish much higher than 25th in the overall scoring. If you can avoid it, save selecting your defensemen until the later rounds as they are not going to provide you with as many points as forwards will. If you are unsure when it comes to your selection on whether to take the best available defenseman (such as a player like Nicklas Lidstrom) and a forward you had your eye one, try to think which will give you more points in the pool based on your pool’s point allocation.

One more tip is to also have at least a few players which are time-proven constant point scorers. These players include Daniel Alfredsson, Joe Sakic, Dany Heatley and Daniel Briere. But don’t have too many of these players as they will usually be expensive and you may have to choose players which you have no heard much of in the past because you have no points left towards the end of your draft. These types of players should give you points almost every time they play.

Also, if your pool includes a goaltender as a player to pick, these players can be big point-getters depending on how your pool allocates points for the goaltender’s stats. Try to pick a goaltender which you feel will play 60-70 games in any given season such as Martin Brodeur or Olaf Kolzig.

On your pool’s draft day, take a look (or print out) at the top players from the previous season and go through them and ask yourself if you believe they are capable of improving in the upcoming season. If you don’t think they will, then you are probably better off passing on these players. Also keep in mind if the player has been traded to another team and who their line mates will be this season.

If you follow these tips, you may find yourself atop your fantasy sports pool.

http://www.dreamsportsnetwork.com - The completely free Sports Fantasy League website.